. >> there are clear parallels between syria and iraq. the biggest crisis of his time during the secretary general. he opposed the military occupation and his outspoken in his criticism for president bush's push for force. >> they were so determined to take action that i'm not sure they were ready to listen. when you're in that situation, you do make mistakes. you provoke others. >> he says the echoes of the war are with us all today, even in syria. >> the war in iraq exercised to the jihadists who rushed to fight. we are likely to see the same in syria if we do not handle it properly. >> that was last week for the c- span program, "after words peak of the most high-profile defector has described how they helped him escape his home land. french services helped him escape, but he refused to reveal more the details in the fear he could endanger people's lives. his defection was seen as a major blow to the damascus government. he is being touted as a potential figurehead for the opposition. members of the new parliament have elected and acad